BARC/PUB/2021/0408

 
 

Effect of gamma irradiation on microbial safety and functionality of value added ambient storable pulp product from Java Plum

 
     
 
Author(s)

Saxena, S.; Jitendra Kumar; Gupta, S.; Gautam, S.
(FTD;NA&BTD)

Source

Food Bioscience, 2021. Vol. 41: Article no. 101022

ABSTRACT

Short seasonal and post-harvest perishable features of underutilized Java Plum (Syzygium cumini) fruits, known for tremendous ethno-medicinal importance, significantly limits their sustained market availability and trade. To address this concern, a chemical preservative free value added dehydrated product was developed from fruit pulp and gamma irradiated (5 kGy) to ensure microbial safety and extended shelf-life. Microbial load was ~ 4.7 log cfu/g in non-irradiated samples that reduced to below detectable level upon irradiation treatment (5 kGy) and organoleptic quality was maintained up to 5 months as evidenced by retention of aroma components (41 Nos) upon radiation processing. No significant (P < 0.05) effect of irradiation (5 kGy) was observed on antioxidant (radical scavenging, reducing potential, DNA protective), anti-diabetic (α-amylase inhibition ̴77%), and antiproliferative potential against A549 cells (83.4%) through clonogenic assay. This is the first report on the effect of gamma radiation treatment on S. cumini fruit product and the implications of this study provide credible evidences demonstrating gamma radiation treatment efficacy in ensuring microbial safety, retention of functional bioactivities and providing a socio-economic solution to the perishable Java Plum (Syzygium cumini) fruits in the form of a functional health product.

 
 
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